Dr. Jay Chapman
Biography: Born in Virginia Beach, VA. Undergrad (2003): B.S. in Geology and minor in Architecture/Art History at the College of William and Mary, advised by Dr. Chuck Bailey. M.S. (2008) at the University of Texas at El Paso working on the tectonics of the St. Elias orogen in Alaska, advised by Dr. Terry Pavlis. Worked in the oil and gas industry (Oklahoma City) for 5 years, mostly on the Marathon fold thrust belt in W. Texas. Ph.D. (2018) at the University of Arizona working on tectonics of the Pamir Mountains (western Tibetan Plateau) in Tajikistan among other topics, advised by Dr. Pete DeCelles. Assistant Professor at the University of Wyoming for 4 years before moving to El Paso and UTEP in 2022. My wife Karla is a physician assistant and we have one son, Santiago, born in 2010.
Biography: Born in Virginia Beach, VA. Undergrad (2003): B.S. in Geology and minor in Architecture/Art History at the College of William and Mary, advised by Dr. Chuck Bailey. M.S. (2008) at the University of Texas at El Paso working on the tectonics of the St. Elias orogen in Alaska, advised by Dr. Terry Pavlis. Worked in the oil and gas industry (Oklahoma City) for 5 years, mostly on the Marathon fold thrust belt in W. Texas. Ph.D. (2018) at the University of Arizona working on tectonics of the Pamir Mountains (western Tibetan Plateau) in Tajikistan among other topics, advised by Dr. Pete DeCelles. Assistant Professor at the University of Wyoming for 4 years before moving to El Paso and UTEP in 2022. My wife Karla is a physician assistant and we have one son, Santiago, born in 2010.
Current Group Members
Perla Rodríguez Contreras (PhD, expected graduation 2027)
Biography: Born in Ciudad de México, M.S. at the Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México. Several years in the mineral exploration industry in Mexico. Currently a geology instructor at the Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez (UACJ).
Research: Rare Earth Element (REE) and Uranium mineralization in pegmatites and carbonatites in the Oaxaquia terrane in central Mexico.
Biography: Born in Ciudad de México, M.S. at the Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México. Several years in the mineral exploration industry in Mexico. Currently a geology instructor at the Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez (UACJ).
Research: Rare Earth Element (REE) and Uranium mineralization in pegmatites and carbonatites in the Oaxaquia terrane in central Mexico.
Muriel Sandoval (PhD, expected graduation 2028)
Biography: Born in El Paso, B.S. (2024) at UTEP in Geology.
Research: The Eocene arc in Ecuador and using zircon Lu-Hf isotopes to evaluate the origin and timing of collision of the Macuchi arc.
Biography: Born in El Paso, B.S. (2024) at UTEP in Geology.
Research: The Eocene arc in Ecuador and using zircon Lu-Hf isotopes to evaluate the origin and timing of collision of the Macuchi arc.
Sarafina Middaugh (MS, expected graduation 2026)
Biography: Born in Albuquerque, B.S. (2024) at UTEP in Geology.
Research: The structural geology of Sierra Rica Mountains in the bootheel of New Mexico. Investigating a low-angle thrust fault.
Biography: Born in Albuquerque, B.S. (2024) at UTEP in Geology.
Research: The structural geology of Sierra Rica Mountains in the bootheel of New Mexico. Investigating a low-angle thrust fault.
James McClain (MS, expected graduation 2026)
Biography: Born in El Paso, B.S. (2021) at New Mexico State University in Geology. Currently a high school teacher at San Elizario High School (El Paso lower valley).
Research: Geochemistry of Paleogene magmatism in the Paso del Norte region and evaluating tectonic processes using regional trends in alkalinity.
Biography: Born in El Paso, B.S. (2021) at New Mexico State University in Geology. Currently a high school teacher at San Elizario High School (El Paso lower valley).
Research: Geochemistry of Paleogene magmatism in the Paso del Norte region and evaluating tectonic processes using regional trends in alkalinity.
Past Group Members
Adam Trzinksi (PhD, graduated 2024)
Current Position: Idaho Geologic Survey: Digital Mapping and GIS Lab Manager
Dissertation: "Characterizing the Laramide Orogeny in southeastern Arizona and Wyoming." Focused on structural geology of contractional Laramide structures in Arizona and sedimentology and stratigraphy of syn-orogenic deposits associated with these structures.
Current Position: Idaho Geologic Survey: Digital Mapping and GIS Lab Manager
Dissertation: "Characterizing the Laramide Orogeny in southeastern Arizona and Wyoming." Focused on structural geology of contractional Laramide structures in Arizona and sedimentology and stratigraphy of syn-orogenic deposits associated with these structures.
Jessie E. Shields (PhD, 2020-2024 )
Current Position: PhD student at University of Nevada, Reno
Research at UWyo & UTEP: Understanding the mechanisms that drive crustal melting in the North American Cordillera and its significance for regional tectonics.
Current Position: PhD student at University of Nevada, Reno
Research at UWyo & UTEP: Understanding the mechanisms that drive crustal melting in the North American Cordillera and its significance for regional tectonics.
Amanda Rossi (MS, graduated 2022)
Current Position: Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries: Mapping Geologist
Thesis: "Evidence for Reverse Sense Ductile Shear during the Laramide Orogeny in Southwestern Arizona: Quitobaquito Hills." Focused on a shear zone in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument and used microstructural analyses for fault kinematics and thermochronology to constrain the timing of deformation.
Current Position: Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries: Mapping Geologist
Thesis: "Evidence for Reverse Sense Ductile Shear during the Laramide Orogeny in Southwestern Arizona: Quitobaquito Hills." Focused on a shear zone in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument and used microstructural analyses for fault kinematics and thermochronology to constrain the timing of deformation.
Dr. Lily J. Jackson (Postdoctoral Researcher, 2020-2021)
Current Position: University of Wyoming, Center for Economic Geology Research: Research Scientist
Postdoctoral Research: Linking the Cretaceous to recent magmatic record of Ecuador to the sedimentological record through detrital mineral geochemistry.
Current Position: University of Wyoming, Center for Economic Geology Research: Research Scientist
Postdoctoral Research: Linking the Cretaceous to recent magmatic record of Ecuador to the sedimentological record through detrital mineral geochemistry.
Shane Scoggin (MS, graduated 2022)
Current Position: PhD student at Washington State University
Thesis: "Cenozoic evolution of the Pinaleño Mountains region, southeastern Arizona." Focused on 1) igneous petrology, isotope geochemistry, and geochronology of a Paleocene-age anatectic granite and 2) multi-system thermochronology to constrain the exhumation history of a metamorphic core complex.
Current Position: PhD student at Washington State University
Thesis: "Cenozoic evolution of the Pinaleño Mountains region, southeastern Arizona." Focused on 1) igneous petrology, isotope geochemistry, and geochronology of a Paleocene-age anatectic granite and 2) multi-system thermochronology to constrain the exhumation history of a metamorphic core complex.
Cody Pridmore (MS, graduated 2021)
Current Position: RESPEC and Geotechnical Investigations: Geologist
Biography: "Geochemical, Isotopic, and Geochronological Constraints on the Petrogenesis of the Pan-Tak Granite." Focused on using petrology and petrochronology to examine Eocene-age crustal melting in southern Arizona.
Current Position: RESPEC and Geotechnical Investigations: Geologist
Biography: "Geochemical, Isotopic, and Geochronological Constraints on the Petrogenesis of the Pan-Tak Granite." Focused on using petrology and petrochronology to examine Eocene-age crustal melting in southern Arizona.